More than 426,000 Nigerians are living as refugees in neighboring Niger, Cameroon and Chad, according to the latest data from the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees.
The figures underline the continuing regional humanitarian impact of conflict and insecurity in northern Nigeria.
Niger hosts the largest number of Nigerian refugees, with 278,077 people, representing about 65.2 per cent of the total recorded across the three countries.
Cameroon hosts 126,320 Nigerians, while Chad accommodates 22,051.
Together, Niger and Cameroon account for almost 95 per cent of the Nigerian refugee population in the three neighboring states.
The Niger and Cameroon figures were updated to July 31, 2026, while the Chad data were current to June 30.
The refugee figures represent only those who have crossed an international border.
UNHCR data also show the much larger scale of internal displacement within Nigeria.
Nigeria accounts for about 2.33 million internally displaced people within a combined population of approximately 3.26 million IDPs across Nigeria, Cameroon, Chad and Niger.
Cameroon recorded 510,855 internally displaced people, Chad 219,595 and Niger 199,542.
The figures show Nigeria remains the largest source of displacement in the regional situation both through internal displacement and refugee flows into neighboring countries.
Much of the crisis is linked to prolonged insurgency, banditry, communal violence and insecurity affecting communities in the country’s northern regions.
The regional burden extends beyond Nigeria.
UNHCR’s West and Central Africa bureau reported about 3.9 million refugees and asylum seekers across the wider region as of June 2026, alongside more than 14.21 million internally displaced people based on the latest available data.
The presence of large refugee populations places pressure on host communities in Niger, Cameroon and Chad, which are themselves dealing with insecurity, poverty and displacement.
UNHCR data are compiled from governments and humanitarian agencies, including national emergency authorities and the International Organization for Migration. The scale of displacement highlights the long term challenge facing governments and aid organizations as they try to provide protection, shelter, education, healthcare and conditions for safe return or resettlement
